Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Probe into Han Dong-hoon and Demand for Lee Hwa-young's Release

Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties launched attacks against each other at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Ministry of Justice on the 8th, over suspicions that independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon leaked investigation records and over the demand for parole (a system allowing release before a full sentence is served) for former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young.

The People Power Party attacked the government and ruling party based on the fact that the former vice governor had petitioned the presidential office for parole. Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun argued that "the government and ruling party's logic behind the rigged indictment in the North Korea remittance case has been blown away by Lee Hwa-young's petition for release," claiming that the withdrawal of charges against President Lee Jae-myung "gives the North Korean Kim Jong-un regime leverage to manipulate the Lee Jae-myung government." Rep. Joo Jin-woo said that "the situation has reached the point where Lee Hwa-young is intimidating defendant Lee Jae-myung, who was indicted as an accomplice," and that the prosecution should apply for the resumption of the trial. Rep. Joo also pointed out that Democratic Party lawmakers were flocking to meet with the former vice governor.

The People Power Party also criticized the Ministry of Justice's Committee for Prosecutorial Respect for Human Rights and the Future, launched in June this year to investigate suspicions of human rights violations and abuse of power by the prosecution. Rep. Park Hyung-soo pressed, "Why is a state agency carrying out the attorney duties that President Lee should be performing himself while standing trial?" Rep. Park Kyu-taek argued that the committee is an illegal organization conducting what amount to investigative activities. Acting Justice Minister Lee said, "We are not proceeding with any conclusions predetermined."